The Sun Will Rise
Chapter 4: Secrets and Lies...
A few days later, Lucas sat at the rivercourt, in deep thought. Something was up with Peyton, even though she kept telling him over and over she was fine, and nothing was going on, but he knew her, he knew her better than anyone. She was hiding something, and it was killing him that she wouldn't let him in..
"Ain't it past your curfew?." Nathan asked, as he walked on to the court.. Lucas didn't response, or even knowledge him. He studied his brother for a moment. " Yo...Luke " he said, as he walked up to him.. " You okay man." he touched his shoulder. Making Lucas jump a little,
"Damn Nate, you scared the hell out me.." He said, as he sat up straight. " What are you doing here?"
" I always come here after work, I shoot some hoops. before heading home...Question is man, what are you doing here at midnight.?"
" Just couldn't sleep, needed to do some thinking?"
"About?"
"Nothing"
Nathan threw his head back laughing, "Seriously, You going to pretend like everything is okay, when you look like your dog just died...What is up with you?"
Lucas shrugged, " Nate, I'm fine..." he said, in a reassured tone, That Nathan wasn't buying..
Nathan groaned, " Please, there is something going on with you, I can tell, so spill.." he said, as he sat down beside him..
Lucas run his fingers through his hair, " It's Peyton...I don't know what it is, I just got this feeling like she is hiding something from me. Like something is going on with her, and she won't let me in.."
" Did you asks her?"
" Yeah, and she tells me it's nothing, that she's fine... But I can tell she's not fine.."
"What is she doing that has you questioning her?" Nathan said, as he thought about his recent talk with Peyton. She did seem a little off, but still cheerful, and crazy as he's always knew her.
" Every since that night of the barbecue, she's been acting strange, she left my house without even saying a goodbye, I went to her place that night. And she said, she wasn't upset nothing happen she just really needed to talk to Brooke..." He paused.." I know she and Brooke haven't been talking a lot lately, and it's bothering Peyton, but it seemed like more was going on... She's been so busy, the last few days, I hardly get to see her.. She doesn't answer my calls., she'll text me and say, she's sorry, she is busy, or something came up. and she'll see me later.. "
" So go to her place, if she's avoiding your calls, go see her.."
" I did, she claimed she was on her way to see her mom, than promise to stop by that night.. But she never show up. I called her the next day, and she said, her mom wanted her to spend some time with her, so they went to a spa together that's where she is now..."
"I know, but Luke they got back from the spa this morning.."
" How do you know?"
" Haley told me, she was over at Peyton's...her and Peyton chill for a few hours. while I watched Jame to give Hale's a break..before, I went to work."
Lucas shook his head, " I can't believe she didn't call me or text me, to let me know she was back...I don't understand what is going on, we spend this amazing summer together, happier than ever.. And now that everyone is back...she's acting like she doesn't want to be with me or something."
Nathan felt bad for him" I know she wants to be with you, and I know you make her happy, but I don't think the problem is you, or what you did or said, I think she is scared.."
"Scared of what?"
" Scared of what will happen, what could happen, when Jake finds out..."
Lucas stood up, " Look, Peyton and I both know, that Jake isn't going to take us being together lightly.. But we promised not to let him affect us.. Besides,. who even knows if Jake is actually coming back, I mean things got pretty messe with the two right before summer, he told me he wasn't sure if he was coming back.. So may...
"He's back.." Nathan said, in disappointed tone interrupted him. Lucas eyes widen as he stared at his brother.." I saw him this morning, at the gas station."
Peyton was in her kitchen, making coffee, when Brooke walked in..." Wow...I must be dreaming..." Peyton said, as she turned around to see a confused Brooke looking at her.. " Brooke Davis, actually stopped by to see me..."
" What's that suppose to mean?"
" I don't know, "Peyton shrugged..." I'm just shocked seeing you, haven't seen you and a few days.. "
" I've been busy..." Brooke said, as she looked around the apartment..." So did Julian move back in?"
" No... I'm all alone..like always..."
"Peyton... I...
" Save it...What are you really doing here, cause I know it's not for me.."
Brooke watched her for a second, before replying..." I needed, my rhinestone high heels, to match my dress for tonight.." Peyton just nodded, she turned away from her friend. And pour herself, a cup of coffee. " Are you coming to the benefit dinner tonight?" Peyton nodded, " You do know it's a couple thing, right, you can't go alone.."
" I know..." was Peyton's only reply..
Brooke looked down at the floor, hiding the tears that were slowly coming down her face.. " Who are you going with?" praying she didn't say Jake, Brooke couldn't stand Jake, and neither could her mom..
Peyton turned around, crossing her arms over her chest. " Who are you going with you?" she asked, dying to know, what loser her mom set her up with.
" Ryan...the guy I met in LA, this summer, he is flying in today to escort me.."
" Let me guess, he's tall, dark, handsome, rich, parents are friends with your mom, he's got his whole life planned out in front of him, great husband material, at least in your mom's eyes.."
Brooke looked up at her, " Peyton, he is a really sweet guy, that was there for me this summer, that treated me really good, and yes, he is the son of my mom's best friend, and he can give me a good life, I will never want for anything, but you know me ...I wouldn't just settle for someone, because of what they can offer me.."
" Yeah, the Brooke Davis I knew wouldn't, this Brooke, I'm not to sure about.."
" I'm still the same Brooke, "
" Really? I doubt that, you see my best friend Brooke, wouldn't have left for LA, without telling me she in her boyfriend broke up, or spend the whole summer avoiding me.. Or move out on me leaving me feeling abandoned.
" I wanted to tell you about me and Julian, when it happen, I came here, you wasn't here.. "
"When?"
" Right after, or last exam, that night was the night we broke up, I was a compete mess... I came here, but you never show up, then Julian came here, we had this big fall out... And I just started packing, I couldn't stay here, I wanted to get away, I needed to get away... "
" But why LA, you told me you was done with your mom, that she wasn't going to control your life anymore..."
" She's not controlling my life, I'm in charge of my life Peyton, and my mom isn't as bad as I thought she was... She was there for me this summer, she helped me get over Julian.."
" I bet she was as happy as a clown, when she heard you broke up.." She knew Brooke's mom, hated Julian, she cut Brooke out of her life a long time ago, because Brooke wouldn't end thing with Julian. Brooke's mom, has Brooke's life planned out for her, where she's going to live, what she will do with her time, who she will marry, even how many kids, she will have.. She wanted Brooke to live the life she had, a life Brooke said, she doesn't want..
" Look, I'm just going to grab my shoes, then I will be out of your hair..." The door bell, stopped Peyton from her next comment.. She looked at the window...
"Damn..." she bit her lip, as she saw Jake standing there, holding roses, " I don't want to deal with him now.."
Brooke walked over to the window, " I'll tell him, you ain't here."
" No, cause then he is going to want to wait for me...and..." she paused, as she thought.." Hey, tell him, I went to the spa with my mom, for a week.."
" Okay..." Brooke said, as she walked over to the door, She smiled, as she opened the door, " Jakie..." she said, all cheerful...
" It's Jake, not Jakie..." he told her with a glare, he hated when she called him that, and she knew it to, it's why she does it.." Where's my girl?"
"Your girl?" Brooke laughed, " Psssh, last I heard, she wasn't your girl anymore..."
"Whatever, where is she?"
"Not here..." She said, happily..loving that he was getting pissed.. " Seriously, she's not here, she went to the spa with her mom..."
Jake just stood there, not believing what he was hearing..." I talked to her a few days ago, she didn't say anything about a spa trip.."
" I don't know, it was a last-minute kind of thing, you know how pushy her mom can be..."
" Yeah, I hate that Bitch...look..just give her these, I'll call her..."
Brooke took the roses, " I will tell her, you stop by..." she said, before slamming the door in his face. She walked over to the trash can, and tossed them inside.." Some old habits just don't die huh?" Brooke shook her head, " So how long are you going to hide from him this time, before running back to him.."
" I'm not hiding, I just need to clear my head, and prepare myself to see him.. And for you info, I ain't going back to him this time, we are done, there is no Jake and me, no more..."
" Please, same line you used last year, When you came back from Paris, with Paul, saying you liked him, and he treated you better than Jake, and you didn't want jake no more, Blah, Blah, Blah,...But what happen in the end...Paul got his heartbroken, and you went back to Jake, saying he was the life of your life, and crap like that.."
Peyton looked at her, with a smile.." Look, I told you I never wanted Paul to get hurt, and it sucked that Paul did get hurt. But I promise this time is different, this time is real, like I know Jake isn't for me, and I don't want him, I'm happy...
Brooke arched her eyes, " Who's the new guy?" she asked, knowing Peyton must have meet someone over the summer, a new guy, that probably cares more about her, than she does him..
Peyton's smiled grew wider, " Lucas..." she said, in a way that made her whole face light up.
"Lucas who?"
" You know what Lucas, Brooke, we only know one Lucas.."
Brooke closed her eyes, " Please tell me, it's not Lucas Scott..."
" Yes that's the one, what's wrong with Lucas?" Peyton asked, in a defensive tone..
Brooke pinched the bridge of her nose." Nothing is wrong with Lucas, he's a great guy, that's why I refuse to allow this to go on...You got to break it off with Lucas..now"
Lindsey was laying on her bed, looking through Lucas's old yearbook's..." So this is Jake.." she said, as she stared at the picture, " Cute, at least he was in high school, I wonder if he still is..." she bit her lip, as she though about how to meet Jake, no one in Lucas's little circle seemed to care about Jake, which made her want to meet him more...
" Lindsey Honey, Chris is here." Karen said, as she stood in the doorway... "What are you doing?"
Lindsey closed the book, "Just looking through Lucas's yearbook, at pictures of him and his friends, just seeing how much they changed since high school.."
" Oh, well..hell I thought Lucas would have burned them, by now..He hated getting his picture taken..." Karen laughed...
"Oh, me to... I felt like every time picture day rolled around, I got like a hug zit...I hated picture day..." She said, as she walked over to her, "So is Chris here for Luke?"
Karen smiled, "Actually, he is here for you, he's got a question for you.."
"What?"
"Why don't you go see for yourself?" Karen said, giving her a little push towards the stairs...
Lindsey walked down the stairs, to see Keith and Chris talking... " Hey,,," she said, as she walked into the room.."What's up?"
Chris smiled, nervously, he looked her up and down, loving the little shorts she had on.. " There's this thing tonight."
"What kind of thing?"
Chris closed his eyes, which made Lindsey laugh, she's never had a guy be so nervous in front of her..." There's this benefit dinner tonight at the country club...and Peyton's mom, brought a table, so Peyton asked me if I wanted to come, as their guest, it's a charity thing, you don't have to pay for anything, But it's a couple's thing, and I was,...like...maybe...you...I thought...that...
"I would love to go with you.." Lindsey said, realizing he was trying his hardest to ask her out, plus she knew Lucas would be attending with Peyton...
Chris smiled, " Really?" his voice laced with shock.. Lindsey nods, " I don't know what it is about you, but you make me all tongue tie...I'm usally, what they call a ladies man, but with you... I don't know, you make me feel a way I never felt before..."
" That's sweet..." she kissed his cheek..." I will be the envy of all the girls, with you as my date..."
" I'll pick you up, at seven..."
"Okay..."
"Thanks, for going with me... "
Lindsey nodded again, as Chris skipped out the house, once he was outside, " Oh, no.." she said, loud enough for Karen to hear her..
" What's the matter sweetheart?" Karen asked, as she walked into the room,
" Chris just invited me to that charity benefit Lucas and Peyton are suppose to attend tonight, and I just realized, I don't have a dress, suitable for something like that...and no money to buy one..." she gave Karen her saddest smile..
Karen touched her shoulder, " Don't you worry about that.." she said, as she walked out the room, Leaving Lindsey wondering where she was going..." Here." she said, walking back into the room.." It's my debit card... go buy you a nice dress, and shoes, "
" Oh no, Karen I can't, " Lindsey protested, putting her hands up.." I promise my mom, I wouldn't be a bother, I can't accept your money.."
" Lindsey, I know what you promised your mom, and I know what you, and your mom talked about, I had a little talk with your mom last night, " Karen pulled her over to the couch.. " Sit..." they both sat down, " Your mom told me about her finance troubles, and I know you don't have any kind of money, so Keith and I want to help, we many not be rich, but we aren't poor either, We want to be able to give you anything you want, we will be paying for your schooling, and whatever else you need...
" You guys taking me in was enough... I just don't want to put you out.."
":Honey, you are just like a daughter to me and Keith, and a sister to Lucas, we love you, and we want to do this for you, so just shut up" Karen joked, " Take my card, and go shopping, and do not worry about the price of the dress or the shoes..."
" Okay...But I so want to pay you back.."
" Your happiness is payment enough for me.."
Lindsey hugged, " Thanks Karen, I always thought of you guys like my second family to, it's nice to be wanted and loved like this, Lucas is a lucky boy..." She stood, up and quickly hurried out the room... She jogged up to her room, shut the door, and let out a loud laugh...She grabbed her cell, and hit her speed dial... " Hey girl.." she said, as she throw herself on her bed..." Yep, I'm here, actually it's not that bad, nope, I'm paying the nice sweet, innocent girl game with everyone, they feel so bad for me, that Karen just give me her debit card to go buy a dress, without a limit.. and the guy who is taking me out tonight, is so freaking rich, that he has a different color BMW, for everyday of the week, I know, yep.. I'm going to milk that sucker for every penny he has..."
Nathan woke up to Haley singing, he smiled, as he laid there listening to her.. He loved her voice, he slowly got out of bed. And walked to their son's room.. " Some days, I have to pinch myself, just to reassure myself that your real.. I can't believe a beautiful, talented, smart girl like you married a man like me..."
Haley smiled, as she laid Jamie in his crib, she walked over to her husband, " You don't pick who you love, and I don't regret anything, I love you, with my whole heart, and I own you so much, you make me so happy... "
" I love you to " He whispered, as he brought her into a kiss...
" You got to work late tonight?"
" Yep.."
" I know we need the money, but it just sucks, that you're never here, you spend your days, sleeping and your nights working... "
" Yeah, it does suck, cause I would rather be here with you and Jamie, but if we want to prove to everyone who is against us, that we aren't just playing house, that what we have is real, then we got to keep doing what we've been doing.. everything will work out, in the end... "
She laid her head on his chest, as he hugged her tightly, knowing he was right, Nathan's parent were their biggest battle, they refused to be apart of his life, now that he is married, they didn't come to the wedding, and they haven't even met Jamie yet...
" Who could that be?" Nathan said, interrupting her thoughts... He kissed the top of her head, before walking over to answer the door... " What do we own this pleasure..."
Julian smiled a bashful one..." I was hoping to talk to you guys..."
" About what?"Haley asked,
" Well, Luke said, that you had to work tonight, and that Haley couldn't go to the benefit..So I was wondering if it would be okay, if I took your wife tonight.."
" You want to take my wife out on a date?"
" It's not a date, it's just two friends, going to a charity dinner, It's couples only, and I don't have a date, and I want to go..."
"Why do you want to go?" Haley asked, pretty much knowing why..
" Brooke's going to be there, and It's probably the only way to get her to talk to me..."
" Well, I would love to go, but, unfortunately, I don't have a babysitter..."
Julian smiled, " Karen, said she would love to watch little Jamie for you,"
" She did?"
" Yep.."
"Well, " she looked at Nathan, who looked at her..." What do you think?"
Nathan shrugged, " Even though I don't like the idea of you having fun with other man, I know you could use the time away... Go have fun, " he put his finger up, like he was warning her, " But not too much fun..."
" Thanks, Nate, I promise to have her back, at a reasonable hour, " Julian said, as he bumped fists with him... " So on to other news..."
Haley who was standing beside him, looked up at him, " What other news, "
" I take it you both know, Jake is back," the couple nodded, " But you didn't know, that as we speak, Lucas is on his way to Jake's to tell him, about him and Peyton..."
Haley's eyes widen... " Did he talk to Peyton first?" Julian shook his head, " Damn, him I told him, to let Peyton handle Jake... What can't he ever listen to me..."
Nathan looked up, before saying..." I kind of told him, it's best if he told Jake..."
"Nathan" Haley exclaimed. slapping his shoulder hard...
He rubbed his now red shoulder, " Look, we all know Peyton would make tons of excuses, so whats the big deal, we all can't hide their relationship from him forever..."
" What if they get into a fist fight...no one is there to break them up.." Julian told them...
" No, Luke won't hit him.." Nathan said, reassuring them..
" Right, Luke won't, but Jake would, especially if he's drinking..."
Lucas walked up in down the driveway for a good ten minutes or so, he knew what he came to do, and he knew he had to be the one to do it. But how to do it was his big question.. He called Peyton, knowing he was going to get her voicemail, " Hey Baby, it's me...um... I just wanted to say I miss you, and I was wondering if we were still on for tonight, since we haven't talked in a few days, wasn't to sure if plans changed or not...And " he paused, as he looked up at the black door..." I'm at Jake's about to tell him about us...bye.." he said, the last part quickly...before hanging up.
In his head, him calling her and leaving a message means he did try to get in touch with her, before he talked to Jake, so she can't be mad at him, for not telling her... He knew she was going to be either happy that he knows, and that hard part was over, or pissed... He chooses to believe she was going to be happy...
" You can do this, it's just Jake, He's your friend, he's your second best friend, he will understand,..." he said, to himself, as he took the finally steps, to the door.. He took a deep breath... Then knocked lightly on the door...
" Hey man, " Jake said, as he open the door.
" I was wondering if you was ever going to show your ugly mug, around here again.." Lucas joked, as Jake brought him into a hug...
" Well, I was thinking about staying out there, you know..." Jake pulled him inside, then shut the door, " I love the road, no worries, no stress, no drama..."
" Sounds nice.."
" Oh it is..."
" So why didn't you just stay out there...not that we wouldn't have missed you.." He said, adding the last part, so he didn't sound like he didn't want him home, which deep down he wished he stay gone a bit longer.
Jake sat down, grabbed his bottle, Lucas stared at his bottle, " I came home for the same reason I came home last year." Jake said, as he took a sip of his beer, "Do you want one?" he asked, as he held the bottle up to Lucas..
" No..."
" You want to quit staring at mine then..."
Lucas sighed, it's only ten in the morning in he's already drinking, " Tell me your fine, and I won't say another word..."
Jake took another sip.." I'm fine man..." Lucas nodded, " So what's new with you? What did you do this summer?"
Lucas looked at him, " I had a pretty amazing summer... probably the best summer I ever had, "
" You hooked up.." Jake said, with a big smile, like he approved
Lucas blushed, " yeah, I hooked up, "
" Do I know her? "
Lucas swallowed hard, as he thought about how his answer will change their whole conversation and friendship... " It was Peyton..."